Latest reports from several ethnic parties say that of all registered political parties to contest in the elections in Burma, only half of them could remain for the competition as almost all of them, especially ethnic parties, are caught unprepared, local sources from Shan State South reported.

The deadline for the parties to send the lists of their candidates is drawing near, but many parties are yet to finish selection because they are said to have had not enough time to travel and select candidate due to financial problems, according to a source close to Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP).

Due to the unanticipated announcement of the election date and the Union Election Commission’s instruction to all parties to send their candidates list by 30 August, almost all 41 political parties to contest in the Burma’s elections have been caught off guard.

“It is really difficult for parties to move ahead because they don’t have enough funds to spend,   enough time to select candidates and enough time to start any campaign. But they were instructed to send the candidates list in a few days,” an ethnic party member was reported by the source as saying.

“We would consider it really lucky if the number of those registered parties remains half of that registered,” the member said. “But if less than half remain to contest with junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), it will be more worrisome.”

On the other hand, villagers and members of ethnic parties were also reported to have been intimidated by local authorities.

An SNDP candidate in Shan State South said that their party is still finding it difficult to send the candidates list by 30 August because it is yet to find any candidates in some areas. So far the SNDP is yet to select a candidate in Shan State South’s Monghsu due to some difficulties to get support from villagers.

“How could we dare to support and participate because we have already been warned by local authorities not to even rent our houses and places to any parties except members of USDA (Union Solidarity and Development Association, a mother organization of USDP),” a local villager from Monghsu told SHAN.

“Local authorities came ahead to tell us not to allow any parties to come to rent our house,” the villager said. “If we do not comply with their order, our house and place would be seized by the authorities.”

A similar incident is reported from Shan State South’s Mongpan.

All computer and photo copier shops owned by the SNDP members were closed by local authorities citing their shops were not properly registered. The shops that have been closed were: two computer shops owned by Sai Bo Bo Hlaing, an executive member of Mongpan, and Sai Zam Fah, motor workshop of Sao Moe Kyi, a candidate and VDO/ CDs shop owned by Sai Htun Myint Oo. The shops were closed a day after the said members held a meeting on 29 July for future planning of the party.

The action was taken by U Htun Win Aung, Chairman of Mongpan’s Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) and U Than Myint, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Department of Mongpan, local sources informed.

“But other computer shops owned by USDP and ordinary people were not closed. It is really clear that they [authorities] are practicing double standards,” a member from a nearby township said.  “Moreover, they also went to order those remaining shops not to copy and print for any parties except the USDP.  If not the shops would be closed.”

“We are trying to abide by the UEC laws but the junta-backed USDP is operating above the law,” another political party member that will contest in the Shan State South said.